The former longtime director of the Southwest Alabama Police Academy in Bay Minette pleaded guilty today to a misdemeanor charge as part of a deal.

Van Davis, 61, entered a guilty plea in Baldwin County Circuit Court to recklessly or negligently entering into a contract that was not competitively bid, which is an ethics violation.

Davis was sentenced to two years in the supervised Pretrial Intervention program and must pay a $500 fine, according to court records. He will not serve time if he complies with the terms of the program, court records state.

The academy's bookkeeper, Johnnie Vines, was found guilty last year of using her office for personal gain and entering into a public funds contract that was not bid out. The charges against both centered on allegations that SWAPA spent an estimated $50,000 with Vines' company, Action Sports Apparel, to purchase hats, shirts and other items for academy staff and trainees.